For seven years in a row,CALABARZON once again emerged triumphant in the recently concluded National Schools Press Conference (NSPC) in Lingayen, Pangasinan—yet another proof that the spirit of campus journalism is still alive and thriving in the region. While it was truly a proud moment for winning students and their schools, in the end, it’s important that they know they aren’t just blinded by the bright shine of medals and trophies. Genuine journalism, after all, is built on truth and empowering communities, not just for mere competition.

​

            That’s the challenge this coming NSPC 2020 for both aspiring and experienced campus journalists who’s aiming to win their spot at the nationals this year. Here in Quezon, local schools have already lined up their fair share of qualifiers for the RSPC, a contest preceding the NSPC which will determine the national competitors for each category. The anticipation is real, and it’s only increasing every year as more and more students venture into campus journalism around the country. This means as the competition gets tighter, so will the stress—and that leads student journalists away from the true essence of journalism, which is empowering the masses.

​

                Campus journalism plays a huge part in empowering small communities. It brings people together through their collective stories to share, and brings students even closer to the reality and struggles faced by their own local communities.  Here in Lucena City, home to roughly 500 campus journalists, you won’t find the best stories of its wonderful people in the city’s heavily politicized local news channels, nor in the commercialized local radios, rather, you’ll see them best through the eyes of an innocent student journalist whose mere passion is to tell the truth through campus journalism.

                That’s how powerful campus journalism is for such a community like Lucena. You won’t hear about the stories of people like Lolo Egoy, for example, a 78 year-old shoemaker who walks barefoot around the city, in the local news channels unless they get good ratings, or profit from his life story. Instead, Lolo Egoy’s inspiring story of hardwork and diligence is known throughout the city because of student journalists who believed his story was worth telling—even without expecting anything in return.

​

                This is how journalism empowers the masses—students tell their truths, tirelessly and bravely, and then they expect nothing but joy and sympathy in return. Campus journalists like them are unique in the field because they’re supposed to be genuine in their work. However,  with the continued success of competitive programs like DepEd’s Schools Press Conferences, it is but unavoidable for student journalists today to focus more on winning the contests rather than writing for passion.

​

                So it’s just right that this year’s NSPC focused on keeping the spirit of campus journalism right where it needs to be. Students should be reminded that they began their “#JOURNeys” with the goal of empowering their schools and local community and not because they were in it for the awards alone. Journalism is not for show, and you definitely won’t survive it unless you build enough passion.

​

                Now more than ever, at a time when our journalists and the free press are under attack, should we empower and strengthen the very foundations of our country—its communities. Their small stories of success is a story for all Filipino people and it has to be heard. But that’s impossible unless campus journalists do their part—they must genuinely do their duty and rally behind the masses by giving them a voice, even if it’s hard or even if they get nothing but passion in the end.